Myiasis of domestic animals and man in India

A disease complex under the term “myiasis” caused by fly larvae, affects a variety of tissues in domestic animals and man. Wound myiasis (maggoted wound) is one of the commonest and widespread clinical problems in veterinary practice. With the tropical climate favourable to their breeding, most of the myiasis causing fly genera are prevalent in India. The calliphorid fly Chrysomya bezziana is the commonest etiologic agent, its larvae not only involved in wounds in various animal hosts, but also invade nose, mouth, ear and orbit of humans. The sheep nasal bot Oestrus ovis is rampant among sheep and goats even as several cases of ophthalmo/nasopharyngeal myiasis attributable to this fly have been reported. Hypodermatosis or warble disease in cattle and goats results in depreciation of meat and damage to hides. Gasterophilus spp., the stomach bot of equids and Cephalopina titillator, the nasal bot of camels are also prevalent although their pathogenicity and zoonotic significance is limited. Collectively, myiasis carries huge economic importance and among arthropods, should rank next only to ticks and mange in weightage and attention. Greater awareness of the danger is desirable to develop more potent ways and means for prevention of suffering and losses presently being endured.